My Information and My Resume: A1 English Lesson

Learn how to give personal information, fill in a simple English form, and prepare a very simple resume in this free lesson for adult beginners. The interactive slides include vocabulary with audio, a conversation video, listening practice, address examples, and drag-and-drop activities.

What you will learn

• Understand common personal information and contact details on a form.
• Ask and answer simple questions about names and personal details.
• Spell a name so another person can write it correctly.
• Write an address in a clear order.
• Recognize the main sections of a very simple resume.

Where do we use personal information?

You may need to fill in forms when you join a school, visit a hospital, or apply for a job. Understanding the words on a form helps you put each detail in the right place. In the lesson video, an employment agency worker asks a visitor questions to complete an application form.

Personal information vocabulary in English

• First name: your given name.
• Last name or surname: your family name.
• Full name: your first name and last name together.
• Date of birth or DOB: the day, month, and year you were born.
• Place of birth: the city or country where you were born.
• Nationality: a word such as American, Canadian, or Moroccan.
• Marital status: words such as single, married, divorced, or widowed.
• Dependants: people who depend on you, such as children.

The vocabulary slide also introduces gender and contact details: address, phone number, mobile number, and email address. Listen to each word and repeat it before practicing with a sample form.

Asking for names and personal details

Use short questions and clear answers. Here is a practice conversation:

A: What is your first name?
B: My first name is Emily.
A: What is your surname?
B: My surname is Johnson.
A: How do you spell that?
B: J-O-H-N-S-O-N.
A: What is your nationality?
B: I am American.

You can also ask What is your address?, What is your mobile number?, and What is your email address? For classroom practice, you can use fictional details and an example email such as emily.johnson@example.com.

How to write an address in English

The address slides show a U.S. example. On a form, separate the house number, street, city, state, and postal code into the fields provided. The lesson uses this sample:

House number: 133
Street: Main Street
City: Springfield
State: IL
Postal code: 62704

For the mailing address example, write the recipient name first, then the street address and apartment number if needed, followed by the city, state abbreviation, and ZIP code. Add the destination country on the last line for international mail. Address formats vary by country; this lesson practices the U.S. format.

Build your first simple resume

A resume introduces your experience and abilities to an employer. The lesson activity asks you to organize information into three sections:

• Contact information: name, surname, email address, home address, and phone number.
• Work experience: paid work, unpaid work, or work while at school.
• Skills and abilities: being flexible, working well with others, and being hardworking.

Practice writing short sentences such as I work well with others. and I am hardworking. Use simple English to describe your own experience and skills.

Practice with the interactive slides

1. Review greetings and introductions in the warm-up quiz.
2. Watch the application-form conversation and listen for personal details.
3. Listen to the new vocabulary and practice the questions with a partner.
4. Watch the video again and answer the quiz questions.
5. Complete the missing words in the classroom introduction dialogue.
6. Review the address examples and organize the resume items into their sections.

Using this lesson in class or for self-study

Teachers can model the questions, then ask learners to take turns as the person asking for details and the person completing a form. Independent learners can pause the audio, repeat the questions aloud, and write their answers. Finish by making a sample form and a short practice resume, then share one useful word or expression from the lesson.

Review English greetings and introductions in Lesson 1, or explore the full collection of free A1 English teaching materials.